This creamy sausage tortellini soup is a 30 minute meal that’s easy to make with sausage, kale, simple seasonings, broth, and cream!
Be sure to serve this with a side of Garlic Bread with Cheese or Biscuits!
Sausage Tortellini Soup
Wait until you taste this soup. This is one you will undoubtedly add to your favorite list of soup recipes, especially because it’s a 30-minute meal that’s got vegetables, protein, and pasta all in one bowl!
You may scratch your head when you see that I’ve got hot sauce and mustard powder on the ingredients list, but trust me. They enhance the other flavors in the recipe and add a very subtle touch that creates a great base for this soup. Once you try it, you’ll see what I mean!
Check out my PRO tips below on how to add even more flavor to this soup, and what you can use if you don’t have kale on hand!
How to Make It
See recipe card below this post for ingredient quantities and full instructions.
Cook the sausage, onions, and garlic. Add flour and cook for 1-2 minutes. Add basil, oregano, hot sauce, mustard powder, and pepper. Stir to combine.
Add chicken broth and heavy cream. Bring to a boil, reduce to a simmer.
Add kale and tortellini. Cook 3-5 minutes. Taste and add salt if desired. Transfer to serving bowls and add a pinch of red pepper flakes.
Pro Tips
- For even more flavor, add the rind from a block of Parmesan or Romano cheese when you add the broth and let it simmer and flavor the soup. If any remains at the end of cooking, it can be discarded. Salt will likely not need to be added if you do this.
- 2-3 cups of Spinach can be used instead of kale, stir it in once the tortellini is cooked and let it wilt, about 30 seconds. If you use frozen spinach, let it thaw and pat it dry prior to adding it.
- I use RANA refrigerated cheese-filled tortellini for this recipe. I also use Texas Pete hot sauce or Frank’s Hot Sauce.
- This recipe is in The Cozy Cookbook on page 51!
Storage
- Store in an airtight container and refrigerate for up to 3 days or freeze for 3+ months. Note that the tortellini will continue to absorb broth during storage. You may choose to boil tortellini separately and add it directly to serving bowls.
- This soup does freeze well but I recommend boiling tortellini separately so that it doesn’t absorb too much broth or get overly soft.
- Be sure to try my chicken tortellini soup recipe next!
Tools For This Recipe
(Amazon affiliate links)- Check out all of my kitchen essentials here.
- 4 quart Soup Pot: The perfect size for this recipe.
- Food Storage Containers– These are what I use, they fit exactly 1 cup and are leak proof, microwave safe, stackable, and BPA free.
- Kitchen Scale: In case you need to weigh the sausage. (I use this all the time.)
- Measuring Spoons– To measure out the seasonings.
- Pinch Bowls– I measure out my seasonings ahead of time and add them to these small bowls so they’re ready to go when it’s time to add them.
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Sausage Tortellini Soup
Ingredients
- 1 pound ground Italian sausage, hot or mild
- 1 small yellow onion, diced
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 3 Tablespoons flour
- 1 teaspoon dried basil
- ½ teaspoon oregano
- 1 pinch cayenne, optional
- 1 teaspoon hot sauce
- ½ teaspoon mustard powder
- ¼ teaspoon pepper
- 1 pinch red pepper flakes
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 5 cups chicken broth
- 2 cups kale, chopped
- 2 cups tortellini, just under 10 oz. (refrigerated or frozen)
- Salt/ to taste
Instructions
- Note: The mustard powder and hot sauce are so subtle in this soup but help enhance the other flavors, so although you may be hesitant to add them, I highly recommend it!
- Remove the casings from the sausage if you purchased links. Cook and crumble the sausage and diced onions over medium-high heat until the onions are softened and the sausage is cooked through, 8-10 minutes. Drain grease. Add the garlic and cook for 1 minute.
- Add the flour and cook for 1-2 minutes to remove the raw flour taste.
- Add basil, oregano, cayenne, hot sauce, mustard powder, pepper, and red pepper flakes. Stir to combine.
- Add the chicken broth and use a silicone spatula to “clean” the bottom of the pot. Slowly stir in the heavy cream. Bring to a boil, reduce to a simmer.
- Add the kale and tortellini and simmer for 3-5 minutes. (If your tortellini needs longer cooking time, add the tortellini first, then the kale during the last 5 minutes.)
- Taste the soup and add salt if desired. Start with ¼ tsp and add more after that if needed.
- Transfer to serving bowls and serve! (This is great with Garlic Bread with Cheese!)
Notes
- I use RANA refrigerated cheese-filled tortellini for this recipe. I also use Texas Pete hot sauce or Frank's Hot Sauce.
- For even more flavor, add the rind from a block of Parmesan or Romano cheese when you add the broth and let it simmer and flavor the soup. If any remains at the end of cooking, it can be discarded. Salt will likely not need to be added if you do this.
- 2-3 cups of Spinach can be used instead of kale, stir it in once the tortellini is cooked and let it wilt, about 30 seconds.
- This recipe is in The Cozy Cookbook on page 51!
Crock Pot Method:
- Brown the sausage/onions on the stove top and add the flour as outlined in steps 2 + 3.
- Transfer everything except for the cream, tortellini, and spinach to the slow cooker.
- Cook it on high for 4-5 hours or on low for 6-7.
- Stir in the kale toward the end and let that heat up for 10-15 minutes.
- Turn heat off. Temper the cream in the microwave for 45 seconds and stir it in slowly>
- Add cooked tortellini to serving bowls and ladle soup on top!
Storage
- Store in an airtight container and refrigerate for up to 3 days or freeze for 3+ months. Note that the tortellini will continue to absorb broth during storage. You may choose to boil tortellini separately and add it directly to serving bowls.
- This soup does freeze well but I recommend boiling tortellini separately so that it doesn't absorb too much broth or get overly soft.
- Be sure to try my chicken tortellini soup recipe next!
Nutritional information an estimate and is per serving. Each serving is 1 cup, and this recipe makes approximately 10 cups.
Excellent, excellent, excellent. The broth is outstanding, I accidentally doubled the cheese tortellini (yum) and we didn’t have sny kale (or spinach) in the house. I wouldn’t change a thing. I suspect it will a lot thicker tomorrow as the tortellini continues to absorb the broth. But it will still be delicious.
I’m so happy you enjoyed this one Vicki! Thanks so much for taking the time to leave a review, enjoy leftovers!💖
This was so good! Husband and I both loved it. Only switch I made was to use spinach instead of kale because it’s what I had. Will definitely make it again.
I’m so happy you’ll be making this one again Savannah! Thanks so much for the great review!💖
Excellent 😋
So happy that you loved it Bridget! Thank you for the review!! ❤️
Everyone LOVES this soup! a real crowd pleaser!
I am so happy to hear that Cate, thank you!! 🙂
Even my picky eater ate it. We left out the hot sauce and mustard seed. But I added a splash of cumin and turmeric. I also didn’t have I had spinach and used that instead. My picky eater who doesn’t like many things loved it and asked for 2nds. Thank you for a cheap, and delicious recipe for my family of 5!
I love when the picky eaters approve, it’s the best feeling! Thanks so much for taking the time to leave a review Samantha, happy to hear it was such a hit!💗
Excellent recipe!!!!
Thank you so much!
My family did not leave one drop!!
I’m so happy to hear that Kathleen, thank you so much!! 🙂 -Stephanie
OOOOO
MMMMMM
GOODNESS!!!!!!
My family did not leave one drop!
I’m actually making a second pot to bring to a church dinner!! Thank you so much for a wonderful recipe and great tips! I made it exactly as written!!
♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️
I’m so happy it was such a hit with the family Kathleen! Extra happy to hear you’ll be making this for church dinner! Thanks so much for the great comments and for taking the time to leave a review, it’s much appreciated!💖
Great recipe! Used frozen tortellini, garnished with Parmesan cheese, and served with breadsticks from the freezer aisle at the grocery store! Easy, fast, and delicious.
Thanks so much for the great comments Christina, I’m so happy it was a hit!💖 Serving with breadstick sounds perfect!
I made this amazing soup tonight. I did not change a thing. I can’t wait to go through your recipes. Tyvm Donna
I’m so happy you enjoyed the Sausage Tortellini Soup Donna! I can’t wait for you to make more recipe! Thanks so much for your support💗
This is absolutely the best soup I’ve ever eaten, and so easy to make. We omitted the cayenne and rounded the broth up to three cans to avoid the leftover broth in the fridge. Otherwise, we followed the recipe to the letter. As good as it is the first day, it’s even better the next.
I’m so happy this was a hit Jerry, nice work! Thanks so much for sharing your tweaks and for taking the time to leave a review!💖